GO-AHEAD Keighley chip shop owner Ross Tanner is ‘ticked off’ with his latest success.

Utley Fisheries has become the first chippy in Keighley to receive ‘blue tick’ certification from the Marine Stewardship Council.

Ross can display the tick in his window to assure customers that his fish has been responsibly caught using sustainable methods.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) said the certification proved that Ross was doing his bit to protect the future of the oceans.

Utley Fisheries has been owned by Ross Tanner since 2011 and has been voted of the top 50 fish and chip shops in the country for the past three years.

There has been a fish and chip shop on the site at Birchwood Road, off Skipton Road, for 80 years.

Ross said: “I’m always keen to ensure that I serve my customers the best quality products from sustainable sources.

“I like to know where all my fish has come from. The MSC certification gives customers assurance of this.”

George Clark, UK commercial manager at the MSC, said: “Congratulations to Utley Fisheries who are doing their bit to protect the future of the oceans by selling MSC certified fish.

“We hope that their success will encourage other chippies in the area to follow their lead and offer their customers a sustainable choice.”

The MSC says that choosing its labelled seafood from fisheries, retailers, brands and restaurants guarantees sustainable, traceable methods and helps protect the life in the oceans for generations to come.

In May this year Utley Fisheries was named one of the top 50 in the country for the third year running, by leading industry magazine Fry.

Ross took over Utley Fisheries with the help of wife Sandra and sons Ross and Joe.

Ross and Sandra switched careers – he was a communications supervisor for West Yorkshire Police and she was an attendance officer at Guiseley School – when redundancy was on the cards.

Since opening Ross has become renowned for his innovative measures such as selling battered mince pies, Christmas puddings, haggis and German ‘stollen’ pastries during the Yuletide season.

In 2013 Ross commissioned the band Ambulance And Emergency to compose a song entitled An Utterly Utley Christmas to highlight the battered mince.

Utley vicar the Rev Derek Walmsley, from nearby St Mark’s Church, prayed for the success of the chippy following its refurbishment.